Aboriginal Mimi Sculptures

What are Mimi’s?

• Folklore of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia• Shy, benevolent spirits• Tall and spindly• Very delicate• They only come out when the weather is safe

because they are so delicate

Mabuyu Mimi Painting at Ubirr Rock

• Symbols:– Spear in his right

hand – Dillybag for collecting

food (over right shoulder)

– Two barbed spears in his left hand

– Goosewing fan for fanning a fire (in left hand)

Chalk Sculpture

METICULOUS CRAYON CARVINGS BY HOANG TRAN

Student Example (8th Grade)

My Example

Assignment• You are going to carve your own personal mimi out of a crayon.– Think about what a creature that hides from people might

look like– Make sketches of what you want the face to look like

• Think about what symbols you might like to include to tell the viewer who your mimi is.

• Mimis often were portrayed as skeletons, so you need to incorporate bone structure. The bones can be geometric and design-like.

Education